I'm getting in early... but this move is going to kill the Nats in the coming years.

It depends on whether they think this is the deal they point to to show they are willing to spend or simply the beginning of a new era of seriousness about winning. If this is it, I'm with you. This is silly money for a 32-yo OF who has been thriving in the best offensive lineup in the league. It's why I was glad they didn't end up getting Tex for 180M, because he alone wouldn't have made a huge difference if you don't build around it.

Werth seems more like a guy they will need to deal away and eat salary in a couple of years, assuming Harper is ready.

It depends on whether they think this is the deal they point to to show they are willing to spend or simply the beginning of a new era of seriousness about winning. If this is it, I'm with you. This is silly money for a 32-yo OF who has been thriving in the best offensive lineup in the league. It's why I was glad they didn't end up getting Tex for 180M, because he alone wouldn't have made a huge difference if you don't build around it.

Werth seems more like a guy they will need to deal away and eat salary in a couple of years, assuming Harper is ready.

First everyone is mad that they let Dunn go using the argument that we still need a competitive team on the field this year etc... Now people are mad Rizzo went out and got the big name FA he talked about, added power to our line up and also helped make the team competitive for this year and the near term future.

I think Rizzo has some nice complementary moves that go along with this deal. My prediction:

Willingham+Prospects will be traded for ML pitchingCarlos Pena Signs a one year deal with the Nats

Both these moves plus the Werth signing would definitely make us a better team than last year.

Starting to get on board with this thread. We need a first baseman and starting pitching, so instead of trading for that, Rizzo takes one of our prime trading chips and flips him for a reliever and an outfielder? If this is not part of some bigger plan I might pledge allegiance to another team.

Starting to get on board with this thread. We need a first baseman and starting pitching, so instead of trading for that, Rizzo takes one of our prime trading chips and flips him for a reliever and an outfielder? If this is not part of some bigger plan I might pledge allegiance to another team.

31 year old OF with bad back, bad knee, and never above 2.9 WAR is not a prime trading chip. The return is a 23 year old reliever who some project to a closer and a CF who just needs solid production in AAA to be ready. That's a good return.

31 year old OF with bad back, bad knee, and never above 2.9 WAR is not a prime trading chip. The return is a 23 year old reliever who some project to a closer and a CF who just needs solid production in AAA to be ready. That's a good return.

I could rephrase that as such: We just lost a key hitter in our lineup whose production will most likely be replaced by Nyjer Morgan (Bernadina to left) in return for an erratic reliever and a 25 year old CF who struggled in AAA. Clearly a terrible deal, right?